STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN AJIT PAI Re: Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band, GN Docket No. 18-122; Expanding Flexible Use in Mid-Band Spectrum Between 3.7 and 24 GHz, GN Docket No. 17-183; Petition for Rulemaking to Amend and Modernize Parts 25 and 101 of the Commission’s Rules to Authorize and Facilitate the Deployment of Licensed Point-to-Multipoint Fixed Wireless Broadband Service in the 3.7-4.2 GHz Band, RM-11791; Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition, Inc., Request for Modified Coordination Procedures in Band Shared Between the Fixed Service and the Fixed Satellite Service, RM-11778 In the 1975 summertime blockbuster Jaws, Police Chief Martin Brody, after a single glance at the massive shark lurking just beneath the water’s surface, memorably observed, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” This summer, we face a similar situation as next-generation 5G wireless innovations loom. It’s apparent that we’re gonna need a bigger boat as well—or in our case, more spectrum. Our boat gets bigger today as we aim to make more spectrum available for the 5G future. Our focus here is on making more intensive use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band, commonly called the C-band. To help us figure out the best way forward, we authorize the collection of additional information from the band’s current users. That data will help us figure out how to accommodate the needs of incumbents, which are primarily using the band to provide Fixed Satellite Service. It’ll also enable us to free up more spectrum for advanced wireless services. Additionally, we seek comment on ways to open up some or all of this band for terrestrial wireless broadband use. Most notably, we tee up a number of market mechanisms for reallocating C-band spectrum. Like the $3,000 bounty placed on the shark in Jaws, we hope to identify a mechanism that will unleash a frenzy of activity in this band. Many thanks to the staff who have contributed to this complicated item. From the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau: Stephen Buenzow, Peter Daronco, Thomas Derenge, Ariel Diamond, Anna Gentry, Joyce Jones, John Lambert, Roger Noel, Matthew Pearl, Paul Powell, Becky Schwartz, Blaise Scinto, Dana Shaffer, Jeffrey Tignor, Colin Williams, Brian Wondrack, and Janet Young; from the International Bureau: Jose Albuquerque, Christopher Bair, Paul Blais, Kathleen Campbell, Diane Garfield, Jennifer Gilsenan, Kal Krautkramer, Robert Nelson, and Jim Schlichting; from the Office of Engineering and Technology: Bahman Badipour, Martin Doczkat, Chris Gao, Navid Golshahi, Michael Ha, Ed Mantiply, Tom Mooring, Nicholas Oros, Robert Pavlak , Barbara Pavon, Jamison Prime, Ron Repasi, and Rodney Small; from the Office of Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis: Evan Kwerel, Paul Lafontaine, and Jonathan Levy; from the Media Bureau: Thomas Horan and Sean Yun; and from the Office of General Counsel: Ashley Boizelle, Deborah Broderson, David Horowitz, Thomas Johnson, Linda Oliver, and Bill Richardson.